Best Independent Schools in the UK | A-level Rankings (2024)

FAQs

Which UK private school has the best A-level results 2022? ›

Among private schools, Emanuel School in Clapham has reported its best ever A-level results. Other co-educational schools such as Alleyn's and Harrodian School have also reported their best ever results, reflecting their increasing popularity.

1: Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet

Founded in 1573 by royal charter, the school has gone from strength to strength in its centuries-long history to become the highest-performing state school in the UK.

For example, as most state schools do, private schools will also most likely offer an A-Level in a subject. But in addition to this, private schools may provide pupils with the choice of a different type of qualification, such as an IB Diploma or a BTEC.

The University of St. Andrews is top on the list of hardest UK universities to get into due to its low acceptance rate and competitive admission requirements.

Harvard University — 3.19%

With a record-low admission rate of just 3.19% for the class of 2026, Harvard currently ranks as the most difficult school to get into.

There are several, including Cheltenham Ladies, Marlborough, Wycombe Abbey and Benenden. Cheltenham Ladies' College and Roedean are the only two girls' boarding schools I could name.

Harvard University

This Ivy League school is the oldest higher education institution in the country and has the largest endowment of any school in the world. Harvard University is a private institution in Cambridge, Massachusetts, just outside of Boston.

The proportion of A and A* grades awarded to private school pupils fell by 12.4 percentage points to 58 per cent, whilst at comprehensive schools top grades fell by 8.7 percentage points to 30.7 per cent.

When he looked at the relative difference of top A-level grades issued – private school pupils were around 20 per cent more likely to receive an A/A* grade at A-level in 2021 than this year. But this was similar for academies, comprehensive schools and secondary moderns, too.

Are private schools worth it UK? ›

Private schools have the upper hand with grades and grammars clearly demonstrate their value but other types of academically selective state schools have also achieved spectacularly in recent years' university admissions.

Roedean School is colloquially known as the girls' version of Eton College as the institution offers top-notch education at the highest level. The school has produced some of the most academically successful and well-rounded students that find themselves venturing into some of the world's most prestigious universities.

Princeton Admission Statistics

Princeton University is one of the hardest schools to get into and has one of the lowest acceptance rates of any college in the world. Some might argue it's the hardest Ivy to get into, even though its current acceptance rate is not quite as low as Columbia or Harvard.

Excluding fixtures during the First and Second World Wars, there have been 182 matches in the series from 1805 to 2021, of which Eton have won 60 and Harrow have won 54, with 68 matches drawn.

Is it easier to get into an Ivy League if you go to private school? ›

Elite preparatory schools have long been a viable path to Ivy League education. Although public high schools now account for approximately half of the admissions at these top universities, when you look at the per-school percentages, private school students still have a strong edge.

1. What's the easiest Ivy League school to get into? While all Ivy League schools have a low acceptance rate, Cornell University has the highest acceptance rate among them. Cornell's acceptance rate is 11%, but try not to get too hung up on the numbers.

The numbers are reportedly similar at most Ivy League universities. Harvard is one of the worst of them: A survey of its class of 2019 saw 35 percent of respondents hail from private schools.

Pupils from UK private schools face double the barrier for entry to Oxford and Cambridge and other top universities, an investigation has revealed.

Is it because Eton is the crucible for generations of political leaders, with 20 of Britain's 55 prime ministers educated there, including the first, Robert Walpole, and the latest, Boris Johnson? This alone gives it a level of fame that is self-perpetuating.

According to Rowling, the elusive Hogwarts Castle is meant to be located somewhere in the Highlands of Scotland, and for many The University of Glasgow bears the closest resemblance to Hogwarts. The University of Glasgow is a beautiful and breathtaking university that's over 500 years old.

Oxford University, UK

It is one of the most Hogwarts-like universities you could find. Several scenes of the Harry Potter movies were shot in spots across the University, one being the Bodleian library. The Great Hall where Harry, Hermione, Ron, and others dine was even inspired by the huge dining hall in Oxford.

The proportion of A and A* grades awarded to private school pupils fell by 12.4 percentage points to 58 per cent, whilst at comprehensive schools top grades fell by 8.7 percentage points to 30.7 per cent.

Do private schools get better results? ›

Overall, it is considered that private schools in London (also called Independent Schools) offer higher academic standards, better facilities and a greater choice of extracurricular activities.

The most recent NAEP data shows what other research has found: Private school students score better in almost all subjects. On college entry tests such as the SAT, NAIS found that students in private schools consistently out-performed their public school peers in all subject areas.